Daily Republican., 1887-07-18

bought my wife. In a short time l
shall be hung for murder. ] have no
| relations upon whom to bestow my
wealth. 1t will all 20 to strangers
Accept this packet, then; and l cannot
be but thankful for the chance which
has thrown you In my way"
A packst dropped into Muriel War
ner's lap as these words were spoken.
The boat rocked slightly as tbs tall
figure sprsne upon the shore, and then
she was alone In the darkness upon the
river.
After this she wandered about the
world, woman whose life and feelings
seemed benumbe forever. She knew
what had happened at Rocky Hill, hut
she had no desire to return there, and
Raze upon tho dend face of her hus band.
She had no wish to return to the friends
who had grown cold when misfortune
came upon her. Che knew that Ralph
ResseR uie had made her O wealthy
women, but she felt none Of the scrup les
which the once would have felt about
accepting his money
She never spoke Of thst night In the
boat with any to whom she came in
cont
She never heard whether Ralph Ees.
seguie WAS captured or not She never
knew what became OF his miserable
wife.
Her past life seemed halffcrRotten
dream. and she was only d!mly con.
toious OF sac reality OF spythtng.
At 81 ears OF age Musiel Warner WAS
Q beautiful and cultured woman. She
had visited nearly all countries OF the
old world. Acquaintancts she made,
but never friends, aud these often won
dered when, In reply to their queries,
she would cay:
II never read o newspaper. Inever
write Lor re ceive letter"
But her time Of awakening came, an
the ono to stir tho dormant emotions OF
her womsn's heart was stranger, and
o man.
1t was a: the Bahama Islands where
she first met Norman Van Ness.
He was 40 years OF age-a Hercules In
the ful)ness OF his manhcot, and he
see med TO be attracted-nay, to love her
from the very frst
Her deep blue eyes soon grew to watch
| for him, and became soft aud tender be-
meath the light in his dark ones. and
with the growth Of her new love many
| OF the feelings Of her youth came back
10 her.
Fa her and mother, long forgotten,
became dear once more to her, and otter
she caught herself thinking:
"lf he ever speaks, and II. after hav g
| told him all, we are ever married, | will
get him 20 take me homo to ny par
ents."
But he did not spsak. Weeks grew
into months, and the lonRe d. for love.
| words never came. Muriel's heart
| again began qaivering with pain. She
knew not that its NUN Dness had depart.
| ed forever.
Sometimes she felt that she ought "a
move Onto get away from influences
which most likely would prove ssdden.
| ing to her-but she could not at once
bring herself to do this.
While she was debating the subjac
| In her mind the crisis came.
| A storm had been sweeping over tho
Bahamas, o vessel was going ID pieces
upon the reef. Muriel Was ou. upon the
wavewashed shore, her eyes bright
and her checks rosy with excitement
Her golden brown hair had been
loosened by the driving wind, and she
was that rare but delicious creature, q
| woman beautiful when she ia mature
Norman Van Ness was by her aide
and Muriel expressed q wish to row ou
nsar to the life saving boats which wer,
battling with the waves and overlaler
with human beings whom they hat
rescued in half.drowned state.
"Let me be Jour boatman," pleaded
Van Negs, and Muriel could not repres
her thoughts which whispered to he
OF that long forgotten night when he
husbands murderer had been her boat
man.
The strong mau took his placs at tn,
oars. Out over the waters they rowet
together, the dreadful past rising 81
strong before the woman thar she hat
no thought of the man 50 near her.
"Murlel," said hs in a low voice
"Muriel-Muriel, iuvs J ou, bat hay,
no right to say these words to you. Mu
riel, have you never thought that
mig ht be Ralph kesseguie?"
"Can 1t be?" abe said slowly. I"
did not see your face by daylight, yol
know"
Eyes, 1t is I, a married man and {
murderer, bat stiil l love ycu, Muriel.
sand l love you," she said in toe
of despair.
They were nearing the l,fe.boat
now. and ons of the crew shouted:
"Van Ness, We cannot so back jus
yet, and here aie o man and womal
who need immediate attention, II the.
are not already dead. We will pu
them in your boat, and ycu can taxi
them ashore"
Ready hands laid the drippirg bodie
In the bottom of the boat, and Will
strong strokes and averted head RAlpl
Resseguie pulled for the shore.
When they were nearing land h,
glanced for the frat time at his burden
"My God, my wife!" he cried.
"Apd Fred Wa,nsr," said Murie
with thrill of relief and horror.
1t was true. Fred Warner had no
died, and tho deed which had mads
these two wanderers upon the face O
the earth had been farce. after all.
The days of the guilty pair on eartt
were nun 0ered. Mabel Resseguie never
recovered consciousness. Fred Warner
lived few days-long enough to ask
the forgiveness Of the two he hat
wronRed, and then expired.
Ralph Resseguis and Muriel Warner
were married, and returned to Muriel',
old home, where, in tae sunshine o.
happiness, the dark days of their liveI
were forgotten.